Used Robot Auctions - Smart Purchase or Inherited Problems?
Manufacturing plants nationwide are shutting down daily. Industrial robots used in these factories are hastily being discarded in used machinery auctions.
Buying used robots through these industrial auctions may seem like a sensational bargain because the buyer feels like they are getting right to the source. This may turn out to be truthful in some situations where a trained, skillful buyer acquires the knowledge to save a lot of money. Those situations are few and far between. Machinery auctions offer tremendous risks as well. Buying used industrial robots via machinery auctions or even online auctions is quite a gamble. When purchased in used condition, pre-owned robots are intricate pieces of equipment that require the appropriately trained technicians to refurbish, recondition and repair them.
As a potential used robot buyer, the price, value, and deliverance of the robotic equipment should be your main focus. Your concern after buying your pre-owned equipment should not be about constructing the robot cell and tooling. Turnkey integration and refurbishing used robots and robotic cells is where our expertise is. Keep in mind when bidding on used robotic equipment at machinery auctions that the total cost of completely refurbished robots from RobotWorx and the integration of these systems is extremely lower.
Questions to consider when purchasing used robots from an auction:
Is the robot in good operating condition? The used robot was probably working before being turned off, however:
- What is the length of time the robot has been sitting and powered down? The operating system can be lost because the backup batteries die if a robot is parked in storage for an excessive amount of time. Can the operating system software be reloaded? Most auction houses and websites can not allow for testing and powering up of the used robotic equipment. With online auctions, all aspects of the purchase are conducted online via email and websites. RobotWorx will test and re-test your robot for flaws and conductivity issues. Please see our Warranty.
- How will your robot be serviced and repaired? Particular service processes, such as special gearing, is needed when preparing pre-owned robots for integration onto your factory floor. Did you know that each robotic model requires individual software for startup and operation? Do you know if this software accompanies your used robot purchase or where to obtain such software? RobotWorx will provide your company with the required software needed to operate your robot.
- Have the OSHA safety standards been met? Is your pre-owned robot meeting the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration? Is the robot safe to operate in your facility by your employees? Failure to comply with OSHA standards can be quite expensive.
- The technician dropped and broke the teach pendant! What do you do? A substantial issue when extracting a used industrial robot from its current location is using the correct robot technician. Some dismantlers will not know to handle each component with great care. The replacements of the robotic teach pendant can cost you thousands of dollars, in addition to the used equipment you have just purchased.
- Cost - You may be under the impression that you are getting a fantastic bargain - A bidding battle can commence and the used robotic equipment will be sold for thousands of dollars more than what it would cost to purchase the robot from RobotWorx. Remember that the industrial auctioneer is interested in raising the price as high as possible because his commission is based on a percentage of the sale. Certain times, robots and robotic cells have sold for considerably more than what RobotWorx would charge for the same exact system with a warranty, training and integration.
- Training - Are your associates and employees aware of the steps used to power the unit up, turn on the servos, or how to program it? Numerous things need to be done to just move the robot, and safety requirements need to be met, certain I/O will need to be determined. You should never deposit a used robot onto your factory floor and attempt to operate it without caution, experience and training. It's too dangerous!
If you decide to purchase a used robot, remember:
- RobotWorx will train you to operate the robot
- RobotWorx can service the robot quickly
- RobotWorx will safely integrate the robot into your application
- RobotWorx will offer a one year warranty on all parts and labor
- RobotWorx wants to earn complete satisfaction
If you are interested in a pre-owned, reconditioned robot from RobotWorx , please let us know.
